Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1887-11-14

each case a committee stood at the door and
exercised its authority in the matter of ad-
mission. A detachment of police was in
front of each house, but they did nothing
more than to keep the crowds at bay, and
although all around them they heard such
expressions as ''the police be damned they
judiciously held their peace. And to this
fact almost solely is attributable the peacea-
BILE manner in which the event of the day
passed off.
1t was precisely noon when the band in
front of the Spies residence on Bryson street
struck up funeral dirge. This was the sig
nal for the starting of the head of the funeral
procession. At the same moment the door
opened the pal-bearers appeared Twelve
men holding large floral designs high in the
air lined the space from the steps to the
hearse, and beneath this arch of flowers the
coffin was borne Not only the street from
one end to the other, but the vast expanse of
prairie on the other side, was packed with
people, and when the casket with the cover
Ing of black cloth and heavy silver trim
mings came into view, heads were barrel and
q low moan, broken only by the sobbing Of
women, went through the throng. Gently
the casket was lifted into the hearss and Gov
cred with some OF the floral offerings, while
the ottyerg were placed on the top of the
vehicle or fastened to the four st ltonary
plumes at Its corners Then, the band still
giving forth its dirge, the procession moved
Behind the hearse were carriages contain
ing the relatives Of the dead man, the first
being occupied by Mrs Spies, his mother,
Capt Black and Nina Van Zandt The
latter was in the same costume that she had
worn during her visits to the Jail aud the trim
mings of her jaunty hat, like Joseph's coat
were Of many colors. There was stolid
look upon her face but otherwise she mani
tested no sign of grief. Behind came the
members Of the Aurora Turn Verein and a
delegation from the Bakers union. All
wore badges of blue and gold fringe
At Fischer's house there was a short halt,
| and the second detachment, headed by the
hearse that contained the remains, fell into
| line. The German band struck up the "Mar-
seillaise," many Of the spectators joining in
the chorus, and the now double funeral
moved southwark to Aurora Turner hall
| Here the other sections of the procession
| with the remains of Parsons, Engel and
| Lingg were in waiting.
| There had been pitiable scene at the late
| house of the former at the last moment. The
/ widow was in a frenzy Of grief She threw
herself upon the casket, and her means and
| cries could be heard in the street below. "Oh,
l can not livel | must die | must die
| My God what shall dor she shrieked "Pa,
| speak to me, speak to me only once sagain2'
| Friends labored hard to soothe and calm the
| agitated woman, and at last, after she had
been permitted to cut a lock Of hair from the
head, she euieted down and allowed the
| casket to be taken down stairs Mrs.
Fielden, Mrs Buchanan, and Mrs. Holmes
occupied seats with Mrs Parsons in the first
carriage, and behind was delegation from
Milwaukee, consisting of Simon Heckler,
DR.. Paul Deriving, and Mrs Margaret
Schuman. The first named bore large
laurel wreath with the inscription: "The
workingmen of Milwaukee and their press to
our fallen comrades for liberty and right. "
The silver plate on Parsons coffin bore The